Infinitea - India's First Tea Bar

If you are a tea connoisseur and love to taste all the varities of tea, here is a cozy little place. India's first Tea bar, this place boasts of several varities of tea that its menu runs into a couple of pages.

Dhivya Subramanian visited Infinitea and highly recommends this place,
of course with your favourite Book. Or just to hangout with friends.

Infinitea
An Exclusive Tea Bar on Cunningham Road
Gaurav Saria saw his destiny in a tea cup. What he saw is the story of Infinitea - India’s first Tea bar. Armed with a rich legacy of tea his ancestors (the Saria clan) bestowed upon him, Gaurav set up Infinitea on Bangalore’s up market Cunnigham Road. This tea bar was set up 4 years back at a time when India was witnessing the coffee culture boom with Café coffee Day and Barista outlets mushrooming on every street.

Gaurav and his wife Richa Saria decided to make their debut in Bangalore. Bangalore has always been a favourite destination for most restaurateurs due to its abundant and affluent cosmopolitan crowd that the IT growth has brought in.

Sarias have been in the tea industry for over a hundred years, they own tea estates in Darjeeling and Bengal. The expertise that the family has gained over the years is reflected on their menu.

(Photo Courtesy : EventsBangalore.net)

There are over 50 different kinds of teas (both hot and cold; with and without
milk) on the menu, and each comes with a little descriptor that tells you about the brew. About 27 of these entries are dedicated only to the iced tea variety where the flavours range from the usual Lemon and Peach to the more exotic Blue Curacao and Butter Scotch.

Tea bar in the heart of south India? Weird, I thought. “A South Indian wants his fix of coffee in the morning otherwise he is perfectly ok with Tea. It’s a myth that the Indian consumer does not have a discerning palette, only he hasn’t been given a chance,” chuckled Saria.

Amongst their exotic teas there was a tea called ‘Stupa’ that requires a special mention. The tea leaves come in the form a tightly woven bud that blooms in the cup and the flavour tinctures the cup of hot water.

“For some teas one needs to acquire a taste,” says Saria. I tried their chilled chilli chai and the descriptor read - Only for the adventurous!!! Try at your own peril!!! [it's all in the name!]. It was interesting but I am definitely not chalked out for that profile of tea drinker and was definitely better off with the good old ice tea (which is their largest selling beverage).

Gaurav Saria has taken special interest to invest in crockery as well; each tea on the menu is served in a cup that is suitable for it. The Stupa comes in a light transparent cup, one that reflects the beauty of the flower. Masala chai comes in glazed pottery, green tea is served in little Chinese cups and the iced tea comes in a long slender glass or a mug.

I loved the quaint English interiors, the black and white photographs and quirky posters that adorn the bright yellow and orange walls, old lamps and an assorted variety of crockery – It revived a certain magic of the high tea culture.

Infinitea also has tea merchandise – tea leaves, gift hampers, mugs etc. Their brand is also seen in retail markets.

Photo courtesy : Rajesh Dangi

This place is a delight for breakfast. You could treat yourself to eggs, waffles oozing with maple syrup, baked beans on toast and a delightful cup of tea. Their menu also features Tibetan Dumplings called Momos, Thai food, Greek Salad and an interesting variety of Continental cuisine. Infinitea also has scrumptious range of desserts – American Cheese Cake, Tiramisu, Ganache tart (I recommend it for all chocolate lovers) and a whole lot more.

If you’re taking your business associates for high tea go ahead and order muffins and scones with raspberry or blackcurrant jam to go with their tea, and if they are still not floored impress them with some interesting tit bits about tea right off the coasters from Infinitea (obviously without them knowing).

Infinitea in a Cup

Cost: Rs. 100 – Rs 300 per person

Cleanliness: excellent
Quality: excellent
Service: excellent
Ambience: excellent
Bottom line: With its colonial era charm Infinitea is perfect for high tea.

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